leigh



(No Model.)

B. .B. LEIGH. LOGOMOTIVE BRAKE.

Patented May 22,1883.

INVENTOR WITNESS E S f V UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

EDWARD B. LEIGH, OF ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI, ASSIGNOR TO THE AMERICAN BRAKE CUB IPANY, OF SAME PLACE.

LOCOMOTlVE-BRAKE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 278,242, dated May 22, 1883.

Application filed March 6,1883. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, EDWARD B. LEIGH, a citizen of the United States, residing at St. Louis, in the State of Missouri, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Loco motive-Brakes; and I hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of th'e same, reference being had to the accompanyingdrawings, in 'which- Figure l is an elevation of the preferred form of my devices as applied to a locomotive. Fig. 2 is a rear view of one of the cross-levers, the cylinder, and a break-head, the other crosslever and shoe having been removed.

Like letters refer to like parts wherever they occur.

' ,This invention relates to mechanism-for applying the brake-shoes to locomotive drivewheels, and is especially adapted for use with close-coupled or closely-connected engines, where the distance between the wheels is so short as to materially limit the class of devices which can be effectively employed, as

well as the force or leverage which can be exerted in applying the brake-head.

The main features of the present invention are, first, the application of the brakeheads by means of pivoted cross-levers. arranged between the brake-heads, which materially reduces the space within whichthe brakes may be effectively operated secondly, in supporting the brake-heads upon and by the operating-levers, whereby the hangers commonly required may be dispensed with, resulting in a still further saving of space and simplification of the mechanism. There are minor pointswith special advantages, all of which will hereinafter more fully appear.

I will now proceed to describe my invention, so that others skilled in the art to which itappertains may apply the same.

In the drawings, A indicates the boiler, B the cab, (J the frame, and D D the drivewheels, of a locomotive-engine. Bolted or otherwise secured to frame 0 at a point opposite the space between the drive-wheels is a bracket, 0, for the support of the brake-cylinder and brake mechanism, and at the sides of said bracket, and also bolted to the frame 0, are flanged plates 0 which may be used when hangers are used with the brake-heads. Be-

tween the drive-wheels D D,and supported by said bracket 0, is the brake mechanism, which,

in its simplest form, is composed of crosslevers d (I, brake-heads e e, and a double-act- 5 ing cylinder, f, or other suitable means of applying force to the cross-levers. The levers d (I are so pivoted on the bracket 0 as to cross each other and support the brealgheads c c opposite the point of applied force, and,pro- 6o vided they cross each other, they may he pivoted at any desired point, though. in order to obtain the greatest leverage in the least space,

I prefer to pivot the two levers attheir cross ing-point, or, in other words, give them a com- 6 mon fulcrum, d, which fulcrum may be placed at such point as may be most desirable to suit the construction and weight of the engine and to operate the brake to the best advantage.

e 0 indicate the brake-heads, which may be suspended from and carried by the cross-levers d d only, if preferred, and in such case they are usually pivoted in the cross-levers, as atm, and the crosslevers are provided with toe pieces or projections n, and set-screws 0, 7 so that the shoe can be set properly for the tread of the wheel and adjusted to compensate for wear.

In some cases, as where space permits, it may be desirable to suspend the brake-heads .80 by hangers, in which case the hangers h may be employed and are pivoted on the flanged plates 0 When the space permits the use of the ham g ers h the brake-heads may be so hung oroverbalanced as to drop back or relieve themselves when the applying force is withdrawn hat when used without hangers it is desirable to provide the heads with a take-off or relief spring, 8, and the same may be extended from head to head,asshownin the drawings. Such brake mechanism may be operated by any force applied to the cross-levers; but, as it is desirable that the force should be slightly yielding, so as to cushion the brakeheads and pre- 9 5 vent any wear or tear which might arise from irregularities in the shoe or tread of the drivewheel, I prefer to employ steam or air, and therefore secure to the bracket 0 a cylinder, f,

arranged between the upper ends of the cross- ICO levers d d, and provided with two pistons, the. rodsf of which are connected directly to the where compressed air is stored.

cross-levers. In order to compensate for the change of direction of the force, the cross-levers (Z d are slotted at their points of connection with the piston-rods, as at g g, though other and well-known compensating devices may be employed. In lieu of the direct connection shown, any form of lever or toggles may be used. When used on alocomotive, as shown, steam is the medium preferred for applying power, though air may be as readily employed, in which case the pipes leading to cylinder f will be connected with a suitable reservoir Where steam is the force applied, a brake-valve or th ree-way cook, it, is arranged on the boiler within reach of the engineer, and from the same a steampipe, Z, connects with the pipe 7r, leading to the eylindersf. An exhaust-pipe,.r, leadst'rom the valve to theash-box, :{nthwhere a tender-brake is used, a supply-pipe, y, therefor is added.

' The devices beingsubstantiallysuch asherein specified, the brake will be applied by the admission of compressed air or steam (from the boiler) through valve t and'pipe l to the cylindeljwhich, acting through the piston or other mechanism on the cross-levers d (1, applies the brake-shoes c c with a steady though yielding or cushioned force.

Then the brakes are to be taken off, the valve 13 is reversed, the cylinderf, through pipe I, is put in communication with the exhaust a, and the applying force being withdrawn, the brake-heads ce (it'overbalanced) fall away from the driver-wheels D D0! are retracted by the springs s.

Where steam is used, the cylinder may be provided with the usual pet-cock, p, for withdrawing the water of condensation.

The advantages of my invention are the extreme simplicity of the devices and the confined space within which the i'ccessary force may be applied.

v ldo not herein broadly claim pivoted crossbars for applying power to brakes, as such devices have heretofore been arranged horizontally below the car-bed to act inwardly upon the brake-heads which were swung from the carbody, and also as tongs or pinchers to operate side shoes which clamped the faces of the wheel. It is evident that in such constructions the power is applied with great loss and disadvantage, and there is no saving of space, whereas by my method of applying the crosslevers the greatest leverage is obtained within the least space, which is a very important matter in brakes for close-coupled or closelyconnected locomotives, and in like positions.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, 1s-

1. In a locomotive or other brake operating between the wheels, the combination, with two brake-heads, of fulcrumed cross-levers arranged between the same, for applying the power thereto, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

2. In a locomotive or other brake operatin g between the wheels, the combination, with two brake-heads, of fulcrumed cross-levers arranged between the brake-heads for applying power thereto, the brake-heads being suspended by the cross-levers,substantially as and for the purpose specified.

3. In a locomotive or other brake operating between the wheels, the combination, with two brake-heads, of fulcrumed cross-levers arranged between the same, the brake-heads being suspended by the cross-levers, and a spring which connects the two brake-heads, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

4:. In a locomotive or other brake operating between the wheels, the combination, with two brake-heads, of fulcrumed cross-levers arranged between the same, the brake-heads being connected to the levers on one side of the fulcrums, and a double pistoned-cylinder, connected by its piston-stems with the cross-levers, on the opposite side of their fulcrums, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

5. In a locomotive or other brake operating between the wheels, the combination of two brake-heads. two pivoted cross-levers are ranged between the brake-heads and to which the brake-heads are connected on one side of the fulcrums, a double-pistoned cylinder, having piston-stems connected directly to the crosslevers, the cross-levers having compensatingslots at the points where they are connected to the piston-stems, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

In testimony whereofI afiix my signature, in presence of two witnesses, this 28th day of February, 1883.

EDWVA RD BAKER LE 1 GH.

Witnesses:

JOHN B. GRAY, J. W. MCMANN.

IOC 

